Sealed package and container providing the same



Nov. 26, 1957 J. A. ELDER, JR ETAL 2,814,420 SEALED PACKAGE AND CONTAINER PROVIDING THE SAME Filed May 29, 1953 wim Z r;

United States Patent SEALED PACKAGE AND CONTAINER PROVIDING THE SAlVlE Application May 29, 1953, Serial No. 358,478

6 Claims. -(Cl. 222-215) The present invention relates to packages and containers for special purposes and, more particularly to a package and container for dispensing a predetermined quantity of a liquid.

The present invention is primarily concerned with dis pensing a single dose of a medicinal or pharmaceutical preparation drop by drop but, from the description herein, it will be appreciated that the package and the container providing the same can be utilized whenever it is desired to dispense a relatively small, measured quantity of material.

Heretofore, multidose drop dispensing packages have een used extensively. However, such packages lack continued sterility and do not assure the physician that the patient in self administering the contents is taking the prescribed dose.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a package and a container providing the same which is not subject to the foregoing difiiculties.

Another object is to provide a package containing a single dose of material.

Another object is to provide such a package which is adapted to confine the material therein in a completely sterile condition.

Another object is to provide such a package for confining a liquid which is adapted to be dispensed dropwise directly therefrom in a convenient manner.

Another object is to provide such a package which is readily manipulated to open the same and dispense the contents thereof drop by drop.

A further object is to provide such a package which is simple and economical in construction, is easily filled and sealed by automatic machinery, and lends itself to packing quantities thereof in small boxes.

Other and further objects will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a unitary container formed of bendable liquid-impervious material comprising a tubular body having an opening at one end adapted to be sealed to confine a liquid in the container, a generally frusto-conical section at the other end of the body extending into the body, and a stem joined along an annular zone to the frusto-conical section adjacent its inward end and extending axially outwardly with respect to the body. The section, upon pulling the stem outwardly, is reversible to provide a generally frusto-conica]. section extending outwardly from the body; and the stem is disconnectible from the section at the annular zone to form an opening for dispensing the contents of the container through the outwardly extending frusto-conical section.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been 2 chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. l is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of an empty container in accordance with this invention, shown in a position to facilitate filling and sealing thereof.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, except inverted, in which the container has been filled and sealed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 with the stem'pulled outwardly and the frusto-conical section reversed.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the stem disconnected to provide an outlet opening.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown a container .gen erally comprising a tubular body 10 which is open at its upper end to facilitate filling the container, a generally frusto-conical section 11, at the lower end of the body extending upwardly into the body, and a stem 12 joined along an annular zone 14 to the section 11 adjacent its inward end and extending axially outwardly and downwardly (as viewed) with respect to the body 10.

The container 10 is unitary in construction, and thus constitutes a single piece wherein all the aforementioned elements are integrally formed. The container is constructed of a bendable, flexible or pliable material having sufiicient rigidity to render the elements self sustaining, as shown, but being adaptedto be collapsed to seal the contents therein and to dispense the contents therefrom, as will be made apparent hereinafter.

Preferably, the container is constructed of a heat sealable, plastic compound, such as the vinyl chloride types, polyethylene, certain polyamides or other plastic compounds having comparable physical properties. Alternatively, the container could be constructed of metal, such as tin, aluminum or alloys of the type used in the manufacture of collapsible tubes. Such materials facilitate forming the containers in an economical manner and impart the desired pliability to the body 10 and the section 11 to enable the same to function in the intended fashion.

The frusto-conical section 11 is joined to the body at an annular shoulder 15 which somewhat stiffens the body to maintain its tubular shape which herein is shown as being cylindrical. The section 11 is sufiiciently pliable to enable it to be reversed upon pulling the stem 12 outwardly with respect to the body, so that an outwardly extending frusto-conical section having a convex peripheral surface is provided (Fig. 3).

The annual zone 14 joining the stem 12 and the section 11 is relatively thin to facilitate the same to be disrupted by twisting and/or pulling the stem with respect to the body to disconnect the stem and provide an outlet opening in the outwardly extended section. The zone 14, however, secures the stem to the section 'in a manner to enable the section to be reversed without premature disruption of the zone. The zone 14, as shown, is adjacent the constricted end of the frusto-conical section 11, but is spaced slightly therefrom to provide a short annular section 13 which is folded under the inner end of the stem 12 (Fig. 3) when the latter is pulled outwardly. The section 13, when so positioned, is an annular flange which in effect slightly stiffens the end of the frustoconical section 11, whereby the stresses created by twisting the stem are directed to the zone 14 to disrupt the same.

The stem 12 is in the form of a rod which has sulficient rigidity to manipulate the same in opening the package. Preferably, it is in the form of a solid rod, as shown. Alternatively, it may be in the form of a hollow rod suitable for receiving and dispensing the contents of the container 10.

The body and/ or the stem 12 may have a roughened external surface, such as knurls or ridges (not shown), which facilitates gripping the same in opening the package and in squeezing the body to dispense the contents. Such roughened surfaces are desirable because the body actually. may be less than an inch in length and only about one quarter of an inch in diameter with the stem proportionately dimensioned, whereby it is apparent that the package may be gripped more securely in the use thereof.

The sealed package (Fig. 2) preferably is provided by filling the container, while in the position shown in Fig. 1, and sealing the same by collapsing the open end and heat sealing the opposite sides at 17.

In using the package, the stem 12 is pulled outwardly, to reverse the frusto-conical section 11 from its position in .Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the stem is worked by twisting and/ or pushing and pulling the same to disrupt the zone 14 and disconnect the stem therefrom (Fig. 4). Upon disconnecting the stem, an opening 18 is formed which is of a diameter to facilitate dispensing the contents, for example, dropwise in the case of a liquid by squeezing the body 10. Itis to be noted that the external peripheral surface of the frusto-conical surface becomes concave upon removal of the stem, whereas said surface before removal of the stem was convex.

The reversible frusto-conical section 11 has several important advantages. Among these are that its pliability, when, extended, resists tearing thereof while the stem is worked, whereby rupture is confined to the annular zone and the size of the opening is predetermined. Another advantage is that the container can be filled almost completely to its full capacity with the section 11 in its inner position, but upon pulling the section outwardly the capacity of the container is enlarged, whereby the container will not be full to the brim or outlet opening 18. This is a very desirable feature because spillage of the contents is prevented in the event the package is tilted slightly when opened. Further, the contents will not be expelled by unintentional pressure exerted upon the body while disconnecting the. stem.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel and useful dis pensing package particularly adapted for dispensing liquid drop by drop in a small single dose. The container can be manufactured by mass production methods at a very small cost and lends itself to filling and sealing the contents therein in a sterile condition by relatively simple automatic filling and sealing machinery. The package can be readily opened by the ultimate consumer and the contents can be dispensed therefrom in a simple, con venient and effective manner.

Asvarious changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matters are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A unitary container formed of bendable, liquidimpervious material comprising a tubular body having an opening at one end adapted to be sealed to confine a liquid in the container, a generally frusto-conical section at the other end of said body extending into said body, said section forming a concave external surface, and a stern joined along an annular zone to said section adjacent its inward end at the base of said concave surface and extending axially outwardly with respect to said body, said section upon pulling said stem outwardly being reversible to provide a generally frusto-conical section with a convex external surface extending outwardly from said body, and said stem being disconnectable from said section at said zone to form an opening for dispensing the contents of the container through said outwardly extending frusto-conical section.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said annular zone is relatively thin to facilitate disconnection of said stem upon twisting thereof.

3. A container according to claim 1, wherein said stem is a solid rod.

4. A container according to claim 1, formed of a heat scalable plastic compound.

5. A sealed package for dispensing drops of liquid consisting of a unitary container formed of a bendable, liquid-impervious material comprising a tubular body having one end sealed to confine a liquid in said container, a generally frusto-conical section at the other end of said body extending inwardly into said body, and a stem joined along an annular zone to said section adjacent its inward end and extending axially outwardly with respect to said body, and an annular flange at said zone for strengthening said frusto-conical section, said section upon pulling said stem outwardly being reversible to provide a generally frusto-conical section extending outwardly from said body, and said stem being disconnectible from said section at said zone to form an opening for dispensing drops of liquid through said outwardly extending frustoconical section.

6. A sealed package according to claim 5, wherein said container is formed of a heat scalable plastic compound, said body being flattened at said first mentioned end at opposite sides thereof and heat sealed, and said stem is a solid rod having sufiicient stiffness to manipulate the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 598,676 Lockmann Feb. 8, 1898 675,372 Brooks June 4, 1901 1,272,921 Crump July 16, 1918 2,160,963 Friden June 6, 1939 2,339,464 Deskey Jan. 18, 1944 2,349,962 Harris May 30, 1944 2,630,238 Battersby Mar. 3, 1953 

